Header strip



C. A. LILLEY HEADER STRIP Aug. 13, 1935.

Filed Jan. 2, 1934 R O T N E V m 'CZz'ffbr H L'ZZc ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1935 PATENT f T I Clifford A. Lilley, Saginaw, Mich. v ApplicationJanuary 2, 1934, Serial No. 704,897 1 Claim. (01. 45-438) This invention relates to header strips and the object ofthe invention is ,to, provide a header strip. arrangedto. be secured to the interior of an automobile body and adapted to receive the upper edges of the upholstery panels with which the body is trimmed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a header strip which is bent to form to provide a channel to receive the upper edges of the upholstery panels and which, after assembly of the panels, may be pressed inwardly to provide a trim about the upper edges of the panels and so arranged that all tacks or nails are concealed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a header strip containing a stiffening insert which will hold the header strip in any form to which it is bent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a header strip comprising a pair of flexible strips having a flexible bead member secured therein and provided with a flexible stiffening portion which is held between the fabric strips whereby the header strip will remain in any position to which it is bent.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawing in which-- Fig. l is a view showing the header strip with an upholstery panel positioned therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the outside flexible strip.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the flexible bead.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stiffening wire strip.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner flexible strip.

Fig. '7 shows the assembly of the various parts.

Fig. 8 is a View showing a wire screen stiffening insert.

In making up the header strip, the flexible strip I shown in Fig. 3 is coated on the inner face with adhesive. The bead or core 2, shown in Fig. 4, may be of any suitable flexible material and in this instance is formed from a molded crepe paper to which an adhesive binder is applied before the strip is molded to form. This bead or core is positioned in the fabric strip, as shown in Fig. 7, at which time, the zigzag stiffening wire 3 is laid against the face of the fabric strip 8 and extends over the core 2. The upper edge of the fabric strip with the adhesive thereon is turned over the core 2 and over the edges of the stiffening wire strip, as shown in Fig. 7, to anchor one edge of the stiffening wire and, at the same time, a fiexiblestrip t which is provided with adhesive onthe inner face thereof is laid over the opposite edge of the stiffening 5 wire so that the lower edge of the strip 4 is coextensive with the lower edge of the strip I. This arrangement provides a space between the edge 5 of the strip l and the edge 6 of the core 2 in which the header strip may be bent to the posi- 10 tion shown in Fig. 2. When bent to the position shown in Fig. 2, a channel is formed to receive the edges of the body upholstery panels. The head or core 2 is substantially half-round, as 7 shown, and the fabric strip l is preferably woven with a design extending longitudinally thereof so that the design comes over the semi-circular outer face of the core 2 as shown in Fig. 1 in order to provide a neat and trim appearance. In applying the header strip, the tacks 7 may be driven through the strip 4 and between the convolutions of the stiffening wire 3 so as to support the strip in position. One place where the header strip is particularly useful is along the upper edge of the interior of I an automobile body just beneath the heading. When mounted in this position, as shown in Fig. 2, the channel in the header strip allows the upholstery panels 8 to be positioned therein so that the upholstery panel covers the tacks I and rear edge of the header strip allowing only the overhanging portion containing the bead or core to be exposed to view, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. This arrangement will conceal theupper edges of the upholstery panels as well as the tacks and rear edge of the headerstrip and, at the same time, holds the panels in position and provides a neat appearing trim along the upper edges of the panels. After the panels have been positioned in the strip, the over-hanging bead portion may be 0 bent inwardly by means of a hand roller to firmly engage and hold the upper edge of the panels between the sides of the header strip. and the wire insert will hold the header strip in the bentv position. The strips I and 4 may be of any suitable material such as fabric, imitation leather, leather, or other suitable material provided with adhesive on the adjacent faces so that the wire insert is secured between the two adhesive faces 'and the upper edge of the outer strip is turned over the upper edge of the wire insert to anchor the wire to the bead or core 2.

In manufacturing the device, the component parts are fed through a machine which feeds the fabric strips, bead and wire insert continuously l6 as will be understood from Fig. '7 and, at the. same time, the portion containing the bead or core is bent over as it leaves the machine so that the strip is ready for use.

By anchoring the wire insert at the opposite edges, as shown, the wire will readily bend with its enclosing parts and, at the same time, has sufficient rigidity to maintain the parts in folded position and to hold the upholstery panels in place and conceal the tacks I. To repair the upholstery, the panels may ,be readily removed from the header strip without damage and maybe readily replaced. v

In place of the wire stiffening strip 3, other strips may be utilized such as wire mesh, thin metal, or similar material. For this reason, I

have illustrated in Fig. 8' the use of a wire mesh insert to act as a stiffening strip. The wire mesh insert 9 is secured in place in the same manner as the zigzag wire strip shown in Fig. 7 and will have the-same action as the zigzag wire strip in holding the header strip in the shape to which it is bent.

From the foregoing description, it becomes evident that the device is very simple and efiicient in construction, may be readily applied, provides a neat appearance, will firmly hold the upholstery panels in place and provides a device which accomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its

utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the United States is i A header strip comprising a strips each having an adhesive face, one oi the strips being wider than the otherithe [wider strip -being formed of decorative fabric and the narover the flexible core'and the edge ofthe zigzag wire strip to secure the same together, the narrower strip terminating short of the flexible core and the core portion being bent over to form a channel at the upper edge of the narrower strip.

CLIFFORD A. LILLEY.

pair of flexible 

